Lot
105

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

Le Repas Frugal, from: La Suite des Saltimbanques

Price realisedGBP 74,500

EstimateGBP 70,000 - GBP 100,000

Add to Interests

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Le Repas Frugal, from: La Suite des Saltimbanques
etching with drypoint, 1904, on Van Gelder Zonen paper, a very good impression of the second, final state, printing with good contrasts, from the edition of 250 after the steel-facing of the plate (there were a further 27 or 29 impression on Japan paper), published by A. Vollard, Paris, with margins, a skilfully repaired paper split on the woman's right arm, a few small repaired surface abrasions mainly in the upper right subject, some time and light-staining, framed
Plate 432 x 375 mm., Sheet 531 x 419 mm.

Lot essay

Poised between Picasso's two most significant early periods, Le Repas Frugal represents a pivotal point in the artist's oeuvre. As part of his first series of prints, entitled La Suite des Saltimbanques, it contains elements of both the Blue Period, marked by its melancholic introspection, and the Rose Period, characterised by the artist's fascination with strolling acrobat players.

First printed in small numbers by Eugène Delâtre in 1905, the plates were later bought by Ambroise Vollard. He had the plates steel-faced and in 1913 the edition was printed by Louis Fort.

Having just learnt the technique from Ricardo Canals, a fellow resident of Montmarte, it is astonishing that Picasso produced this icon in the history of printmaking at the age of only twenty-three. One of his masterpieces as a printmaker, it was only his second work in the medium, which fascinated him for the remainder of his life.

Cataloguing & details

Special Notice

Artist's Resale Right ("Droit de Suite"). Artist's Resale Right Regulations 2006 apply to this lot, the buyer agrees to pay us an amount equal to the resale royalty provided for in those Regulations, and we undertake to the buyer to pay such amount to the artist's collection agent.These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.